Glass-tile-molding apparatus.



E. 1). Mi GLASS TILE MOLDING APmRATUs.

.APPLIOATION FILED SHPT.26,1907.

Patented Nov. 24, E908.

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INVENTOR. 462 2 g ERNEST D. MOONEY, OF WESTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

GLASS-TILE-MOLDING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Application filed September 26, 1907. Serial No. 894,689.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST D. MOONEY, a resident of eston, in the county of Lewis and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Glass-Tile-Molding Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of relatively thin glass tiles for facing walls and other surfaces, and one object is to provide a mold wherein the parts constituting the molding cavity cooperate in an improved manner, and wherein means of improved construction is employed for holding the movable part of the mold closed during the tile-forming operation.

A further feature of the invention is the arrangement of each mold cavity in such manner that themolten glass will not pull apart or separate while flowing into and filling the same.

With these objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, and in the combinationsof parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved apparatus showing the glass forcing plunger in lowered position, and with one of the movable mold sections raised or opened in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a crosssectional view onlines 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the fixed part or base of the molding apparatus consists of a central portion 2 having an upwardly rounded top-surface 3 which constitutes the bottom of a molten-glass receiving chamber 4. Radiating from the central part 2 are branches 5 (two being here shown) having the outwardly extendlng downwardly sloping faces 6 which constitute the bottoms of the tile-molding cavities 7. Each of faces 6 is slightly depressed, as shown, to form a portion of the thickness of tile A, the remainder of the thickness being formed by depression 8 in the inner face of the movable mold section 9, the outer or front face of the tile being formed against this face 8.

Each of sections 9 is hinged at 10 to the other end of one of base branches 5, and

thus may be conveniently opened and the formed tile removed. When the molds are closed the upper ends of sections 9 extend beyond the corresponding ends of faces 6 and slightly overhang top face 3 of the base,

and at the junctures of the latter and sections 9 are passages or gates 11 through which the glass flows from chamber 4.

The upper extremity of each hinged section 9 is formed with a shoulder 12, and when the sections are closed the shoulders thereof combine to form an annular seat for the lower end of the cup-shaped device 13 having a central open passage which comprises a portion of the chamber 4. Adapted to lit the passage in cup 13 is plunger 14 of any suitable form of pressing apparatus, and with the usual spring plate 15 carried by the plunger and bearing downwardly on the cup, the latter holds the movable mold sect-ion securely closed during the forming operation.

It is characteristic of the invention to have each molding cavity so inclined that molten glass flowing into the upper end will not pull apart or separate by force of gravity as would be the case if the cavity were disposed vertically or so nearly so as to present no face or surface for so retarding or checking the flow of molten glass as to prevent it from pulling apart. In flowing molten glass from one cavity to another, as in the present practice, the glass has a tendency to pull apart or separate into globular or other divisional forms, the consistency of the molten glass being such that this separating action will occur in the absence of some supporting or retarding means so checking the flow as to retain the glass in an undivided or homogeneous mass while filling the cavity. Each separation or division of the molten glass results in a crease or wrinkle in the surface of the molded article, it being impossible to cause the' glass to reunite in such manner, even with the molding cavity quite full, as to obliterate such marks. With the present improvement, the glass flows inwardly over the inclined bottom face of the wall of each cavity which so checks the forward movement as to prevent the glass from separating.

In use, an amount of molten glass requisite to fill the molding cavities is deposited in chamber 4, and upon the lowering of the plunger the glass 1s caused to flow through passages 11 and into molding cavities 7 in a continuous or unbroken stream, this flowin of the glass causing the tiles to be forme with unblemished surfaces, :1 result not obtainable when forming the tile by the direct application of a pressing plunger thereto.

the tile at passage 11 may be readily cracked off without necessitating any further finishing operation.

As it is desired to form tiles with ribs on their rear faces for'securing them to walls and other surfaces, face 6 of each mold part may be provided with grooves- 16, and by disposin these grooves at an angle oblique to said: ace, the tile is formedwith ribs B of corresponding shape. I

Claims for the novel'method here involved are presented in application Serial No. 398,433, filed October 21, 1907.

I claim 1. A tile mold having a molding cavity of the shape of the tile and closed save for a glass inlet, the cavity being so inclined that molten glass entering the upper portion thereof will not pull apart by force of gravity while filling the cavity.

2. A tile mold having a molding cavity of theshape of the tile and closed save for a glass inlet, the cavity beingso inclined that molten glass entering the upper portion thereof will not pull by force of gravity while-filling the cavity, and means for forcing glass into the upper .end of and filling the cavity. a v

3. A glass tile mold having a molding cav-' ity of the shape of a tile with a wall thereof surfaced to form the front face of the tile,-

the cavity being closed save for a filling opening entering the cavity at a point'other than through said front face-forming wall, the cavity being so inclined that molten glass 'enter' the same will not pull apart by force 0 gravity while filling the cavity.

4. A glass tile mold consisting offs epa rable-mold parts having meeting faces re cessed to form an inclined molding cavity,

the mold face forming oneinclined wall of thecat ity having rib-forming grooves, and the oppositewa of the cavity being surfaced to form the outer face of the tile.

5, A rable mold parts having meeting faces recessed to form an inclined molding cavity with rib-forming grooves extending from top to bottom of, one inclined wall of the glass tile mold consisting of sepaopposite edge of the movable mold part and secure the same to the fixedpart.

7. A glass tile mold consisting of a fixed mold part having a ventral top surface and faces radiating from said surface, movable mold parts for said faces movably secured at their outer ends to the fixed mold part and at their inner ends forming a seat, the meeting faces of the fixed and movable mold,

parts having tile molding cavities which are open to the central top face of the fixed mold part, and a bottomless plunger-receiving cup seated on and securing the adjacent ends of the movable mold parts.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

ERNEST no MOONEY."

Witnesses:

W. L. MOONEY,

ROY B. Coon. 

